I feel your heartbeat ♥ All the time

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It's been a year since... everything. Since their house blew up, since Extremis. Since Toni had officially lost her mind. She likes to think she's doing better, but there's no true litmus for something like that. She goes to her therapist once a week, as promised. It's still a struggle, but it's getting easier. Sometimes Pepper sits in with her and sometimes she's alone. Depending on the week, one or the other could be harder. Sometimes she doesn't talk the whole hour. Sometimes she doesn't let the doctor have a word in edgewise. Sometimes she cries -- that's the hardest for her, showing weakness in front of an authority figure; allowing herself to be helped. Maybe it's not making any difference, but she knows Pepper appreciates the effort.

There are two shiny suits in the lab, as promised, too. One that she's repairing now as the other stands idly by. She's working with the Avengers again, sort of. It's kind of on-again-off-again. And her remodeling efforts had been for naught, of course none of them wanted to stay here, what was she thinking? Except Bruce, when he bothers to come back from whatever third-world shithole he's in at any given time. Sometimes she gets along with Steve, but usually not. Things are tumultuous, but it's her version of normal and she feels like her head is at least above water again.

Pepper is back to work, solving world hunger and light fare like that. He does so much better at the helm than Toni ever did. It makes her proud, but with the tiniest bit of niggling jealousy she can't ever seem to shake. He seems happy -- fulfilled. She hears his oh-so familiar footfalls predictably right on time. Or really, five minutes early. It's their scheduled "reconnection" time, and she feels her heart speed up from his proximity alone, finding a stopping point as soon as she can so she can give him a look over. Handsome as ever, of course. And her in a threadbare Pinkfloyd tanktop and holey jeans, grease smeared across her cheek and safety goggles pinning her hair back that had fallen out of her bun. What a pair they make, as ever. Yin and yang.

Comments

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"What counts as nice?" she queries, dragging a light, tickling touch down over his arms and then down his ribcage.

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He hums a little at the touches, a light shiver coursing pleasantly down his spine at the feel of it. "You're on the right track, already."

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She grins up at him, hands running up and down his sides as she loses track of the music overhead, her feet slowing so she can focus on him instead. One palm presses against his hip while the other neatly untucks his shirt from his trousers, fingers sneaking up and under to rove over bare skin. "How about now?"

[effectuate]

"Madam..." he starts, mock-stern, inhaling deeply as Toni's fleet hands trail over his bare stomach. Dropping the act, he relents with a crooked smile, "Me and my wine yield. Since this is bound to get embarrassing for me real fast if I don't."

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The way he calls her that is sexy, for some reason, her tongue darting out and running across her lips suddenly. "Pity. You're cute when you're embarrassed." Toni drops her hands suddenly, smoothing out his shirt on the way and offering up a sweet smile in their place.

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"Only then?" He twists his lips into a vague pout. "I thought I was cute all the time. What a let-down." But he can't help but drop a light kiss to her lips, unable to resist that sweet smile.

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She smiles toothily, thinking the pout is sexy too. When he leans in for a kiss, she immediately deepens it, one hand sliding up his arm and hooking around the back of his neck to bring him closer. Toni nips his bottom lip and runs her tongue along it after, begging to be granted access. He may have had something sweet and brief in mind when he'd kissed her, but she doesn't ever hesitate to up the ante.

[effectuate]

He gives a tiny hum, half surprise and half pleasure, when she pushes in and deepens the kiss he'd meant as light and brief. His lips curve a little into the kiss, amused and fond. Just like her to push the envelope; not that he can much complain in this case, gladly parting his lips for her and meeting her questing tongue in the middle. At some point, they've stopped moving, standing still instead holding each other and kissing, like something out of a gooey lifetime movie. "Are you using your wiles on me?" he murmurs teasingly once they break apart for breath, lips brushing against hers.

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Toni has the same thought about Lifetime movies or the like, one heel lifting slightly so she can press flush against him while they kiss. "I wasn't under the impression that I had to," she admits after taking a much needed breath and pushing her forehead against his to rest. "In fact, I don't think you could handle my wiles, Mr. Potts."

[effectuate]

Pepper can't help but laugh softly at that, smiling and closing his eyes as their foreheads meet. "That's definitely the truth. I can barely handle your non-wiley self, Ms. Stark."